The 3,500 patients on the books of a Billericay GP surgery have been assured of receiving the medical treatment they need following the suspension of disgraced partner Dr Azhir Sarfraz.

Dr Sarfraz, 34, was suspended for 12 months last week for "disgraceful and indecent conduct" towards two vulnerable women patients, leaving his father to cope with the entire patient list.

The younger doctor's absence comes at a time when south Essex is experiencing a serious shortage of GPs which is stretching practices to the limit.

Dr Sarfraz Snr declined to speak to the Evening Echo and Martin Cresswell, spokesman for Brentwood, Billericay and Wickford primary care trust said only that the trust was in contact with him.

Mr Cresswell said: "He is the senior partner and if wants a locum, it will be looked at."

But he acknowledged that August was a peak holiday time when locum cover is already much in demand.

The spokesman said: "Our discussions have not decided anything. Nothing is agreed. But we are confident we can provide something. We have arrangements to obtain locum cover, but it depends on availability."

Published Wednesday August 14, 2002

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